Looking for the perfect cold-weather escape from the Great White North? Just a short plane ride away is South Beach, Miami’s hotbed of culture and style.
Where to Sleep:
South Beach’s stylish yet spare hotel The Town House (from US $105 per night) offers elegant but inexpensive rooms right in the heart of SOBE. A beach ball awaits you in your minimalist red-and-white room, setting the scene for a playful stay. With two perfect venues to lay out – a golf-cart escorted beach concession and rooftop lounge with waterbeds – this hotel lets you make the most of the sun (don’t forget to slather on that SPF!).
Or stay in the swanky W hotel right on the beach on Collins Ave (from US $349 per night). With its impeccable design and bumping hotel bar, even if you don’t stay here, this new hotel is the place to be seen.
Where to Eat:
For a killer Mojito and view of the sunset, check out the über-modern Marcel Wanders-designed Mondrian Hotel. Then stay for a delicious fusion dinner at Asia de Cuba. Order a few dishes to share, including the Tunapica (US $24) and Miso-Cured Alaskan Black Cod (US $38), with a side of Lobster Boniato Mash (US $16).
For a quick lunch bite, visit the walk-up bar at La Sandwicherie for authentic baguette sandwiches (from US $5) served by a handsome French chef. Or visit Lime for fresh and fast tacos; starting at US $3 each, you can afford to try all three – chicken, beef and fish.
Of course, a visit to South Beach isn’t complete without a stop at Joe’s Stone Crab. One of the oldest restaurants in America, it’s perpetually busy (it’s only open during the winter stone crab season), so book ahead or go early. Try the sweet Stone Crab Claws (market price) and delicious Lobster Mac & Cheese (US $16). If the formal dining room isn’t your thing, grab takeout and hit the southern-most end of the beach.
What to Do:
South Beach is known for its Art Deco architecture (even the local McDonald’s must adhere to the style). Take a self-guided tour of the streets from 6th to 16th and stop in at the Wolfsonian museum for a unique exhibit of early modern design.